WHEREAS,
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has led The United States Conference of Mayors from
June 2011-June 2012 , serving the nation's mayors as their President with great
distinction; and

WHEREAS, as
Conference of Mayors President, Mayor Villaraigosa has been a tireless and
eloquent advocate for cities and metro areas; and

WHEREAS, he
has expressed his vision for urban America with strength and forthright
language, as the following quotes show:

Cities
–The Nation's Economic Engines:"Our cities and our metro regions are our country’s economic
engines.We can put people to work by
building the foundation this country needs to compete around the world;"
and

Our
Common Sense Jobs Agenda:Putting People Back to Work:"It has become increasingly obvious – we need a concerted and
comprehensive effort to get Americans back to work by making the strategic long-term
investments in our infrastructure and in our people."

"Mayors have been a consistent voice for sound economic
and fiscal policies.We presented our Common Sense Jobs Agenda with policies
to boost our economy in the short term.And we presented policies that will lay the foundation for a broad-based
expansion in the long term.Congress followed our lead when it passed
the extension of the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits.Now Congress should get down to business and
pass the rest of the agenda!

Fast
Forward:"We cannot
keep pace in the coming decade with the new economic powers of China, Brazil
and India if our bridges are crumbling and our rails are rusty.That
is why mayors have sounded the clarion call for critical infrastructure
investments.Because of our advocacy
we assembled a bipartisan coalition in support of America Fast Forward.And
this coalition successfully pushed to have this innovative program included as
a key piece of the Surface Transportation Bill.Now it is up to Congress.If they
don't act by June 26th, it will be 1,000 days since we have had a
transportation bill!"

Education:"While states are slashing education
budgets, cities are blazing new trails
in education reform and finding innovative ways to ensure that our children are
prepared for the jobs of the future;" "Good schools plant the
seeds of success. They provide our children with skills they need to advance in
today’s highly competitive, knowledge-based economy.They are crucibles of citizenship"

Washington Needs a Wakeup Call!"President Villaraigosa calls upon Congress
needs to act on key legislation, such as the Surface Transportation bill and
the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and refrain
from cutting time-tested, effective urban programs, such as the Community
Development Block Grants.

Cities:Generators
of Innovative Thinking:"When
it comes to finding imaginative solutions to our most pressing problems, it’s
our mayors who are doing the heavy lifting! Cities are where innovative strategies are being created and tested.
Our cities and metro regions are the global hubs of innovation."

Mayors
in the Vanguard of Environmental Strategies:"In the absence of effective
international environmental stewardship, cities are taking a more and more
prominent lead in working together to mitigate and adapt to global climate
change,"

Congress
Should Focus on Nation-building in America with Cost Savings from Our Troops
Returning from Iraq and Afghanistan:Now Congress should invest those war savings
in rebuilding our infrastructure and paying down our national debt!"We’ve
built bridges in Kandahar.It’s time to
build them in Kansas City! We’ve built roads in Baghdad.It’s time to build them in Baltimore!"

U.S.
Conference of Mayors:"The U.S. Conference of Mayors will remain the voice of
intellectual and moral authority when it comes to the nation’s cities and metro
regions."

NOW
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors
recognizes President Antonio Villaraigosa for his comprehensive vision for
cities and metro regions of this great country; and

BE IT
FURTHER RESOLVED that the nation's mayors thank President Antonio
Villaraigosa for his strong efforts to improve academic performance in schools,
decrease gang violence, protect and improve America's infrastructure, create
jobs and put people back to work, encourage cities to think local and act
global, and emphasize the great contributions of mayors and their cities to
innovation and to pushing the national agenda; and

BE IT
FURTHER RESOLVED that the mayors, their families and staff, USCM staff, and
all others at this 80th Annual Meeting in Orlando express sincere appreciation
to Mayor Villaraigosa for creative and effective leadership and offer warmest
wishes to him for all the best that life can offer, now and in the future!